Cops Unleash Armored ‘Beast’ For Patrols

Police in one Atlanta community are taking extraordinary measures to deal with heightened rates of violent crime – the unleashing of armored vehicles capable of withstanding bullets fired from AK-47s.

Originally reported by WSB Atlanta, police are using an armored vehicle normally used by SWAT teams to battle a series of burglaries and home invasions in a south Fulton County neighborhood.
Fulton County police Capt. Wade Yates said the vehicle could help in a foot chase.

Last week, a woman was shot multiple times during a break-in in the area. Police say the burglars fled in a stolen car and were able to escape when they jumped out and ran into some woods.

But the new unit is equipped with thermal imaging for such a time as that, officials said.

Police also said the armored car is meant to reassure residents. Officers are also putting in longer hours and more patrol shifts to increase police presence in the area, the report said.

MSNBC reported that police departments across the nation are acquiring the Ballistic Engineered Armored Response (BEAR) vehicle. With a price-tag between $190,000 and $300,000, the BEAR doesn’t come cheap:

The BearCat G3 claims the vast majority of armored personnel carrier sales to SWAT teams in the United States. Fashioned from a Ford F-550 commercial truck chassis, Massachusetts-based Lenco builds about 200 such vehicles in year, in grades from “VIP SUV” to combat-ready with gun turrets. The massive roller is actually a smaller version of the BEAR, or Ballistic Engineered Armored Response vehicle, which Lenco builds for armies and law enforcement agencies around the world, the company confirms.

“The Lenco BearCat … can easily qualify as a necessary tool under several different grant programs, from disaster response to crime fighting,” it said.

The BearCat G3 offers 7.62 AP/.50 caliber BMG Protection, with V-Hull Design and Blast Seats available as an upgrade.

Just because they say it will stop an AK doesn’t mean it will. Several shots into the headlight area from different angles should kill it. .50 rifle will go through any part of it like butter and suck everybody out the exit hole 🙂 Also it’s really hard to see (and breathe) when a Molotov cocktail is utilized properly.

o.k.
the tyres will be bolted through and there will be an insert in the hub to stop them deforming if they go flat on most modern military stuff.
and i’m pretty sure the underside is fitted with deflector-panels.

there are 2 weaknesses to these size of light apc.
the first is the need to air for the engine.
the second is the weight/size ratio.

if i wanted to disable one, i’d ram it with a short and heavy truck from the side.
good candidates would be:
a cement mixer,
a dump truck,
a tracter-unit from an 18wheeler.

you will either flip it, or drive it into the side of a building.

then you can either shut it down with a co2 gas tank / fire extinguisher into the air intake or torch it.

btw, if the manufacturers have learned anything from the russians, the engine will be air-cooled.
so no radiator or hoses to destroy.